The Washington critic., 1887-12-08
The NOVELTIES OF FASHION.
"Olive Harper" ON II Theme Of Universal
Feminine Interest.

The New York leader is daring, and
ready not only to adopt striking
novelty, but to even cxaggerate ii.
When high hats were first sent over
here from foreign shores the New York
women had the courage to have jack
screws put under them and have them
raised at least three inches higher than
the models, and they bore in digniiicd
silence all the abuse heaped upon them,
and have always managed TO look pretty
in them. When modest bustlcs began
to appear under the title of "digniliers"
they Immediately began wearing them
so large as to render II gathering of
women formidable affair for person
in a hurry, and it was not long before
nine-tenths of the New York women
became what an intelligent little boy
called "hikers," and they filled the
streets with skirts hiked up in the back
several inches shorter than the rest of
their gowns by their "improvcrs." That
they are not graceful, not pretty, not in
proportion does not worry the feminine
mind. They are the fashion, and there
fore to be worn.
STREET DRESSES.
Between the exaggerated shapes of
the winter wraps and the inflated skirts,
woman needs to have lots of "style"
to help her through, and with that and
pretty bonnet, in spite of the draw
backs, she becomes the envy of her
own sex and the admiration of the
other.
The house dresses of necessity are
made in II little less aggressive fashion.
and are far prettier, though the striving
after the effect of long, slender waist
makes lady welcome the pretty and
comfortable tca-gown in the afternoon.
Toilets for mornings and ordinary wear
ut home are prettier and palmer than
they have been for many years past,
but, on the other hand, dinner and
other evening dresses have never been
so superb in material or sumptuous in
trimming us now. Many of them are
modelled after the splendid costumes
worn by prominent actresses of the day,
and worn with more or less grace. Tho
leading houses have to follow the popu-
lar sentiment and provide them, regard
less OF their own feelings.
HOUSE DRESSES.
y walk through the principal Streets
n passing view of the carriages on parade
in Fifth avenue, and peep or SO into
some of the large fur stores makes one
feel rs If women We're the most heartlcss
and unfeeling creatures in the world.
We have heard so much about their
causing the slaughter of the birds for
their adornment that it is with real
shock that we see that the animal king
dom suffers just as much, il not more,
than the birds. One dealer alone showed
me siXty-three different kinds of fur
muff's. The most of them are of the
long haired variety, and from the tex
ture of some of thom ] think some one
has discovered how to utilize Spilz dogs.
There are all kinds of foxes represented,
from the snow white Arctic to the Jet
black and red lynXes, martens, beavers,
offers, coyotes, squirrels, rabbits, chin
chilla, sable, bison, crmine and skunk,
not TO mention cats and dogs, Astrakhan
and goats and seal All these and many
more which | cannot remember have
their places rs decorations for pretty
women. Besides these are kids for
gloves and ulligntors for pocket-boolls.
The furs are mostly made up in
muirs, stoles and long tippcts and
short capes or pelerines. Sealskin
Newmarkets, wraps, and walking
jackets are just rs popular as ever. The
wraps have trimming of black fur
around them or II fringe made of sable
tails. The jackets are most often plain,
but also have tails us fringe where it
can be afforded. Sable is now the
dearest fur, short wrap of fine fur
costing 81 200 to 81 800. But sealskin is
richer in color and more becoming to
the most of women than sable, and for
that reason probably will still remain
dear TO the feminine heart.
OLIVE HARPER.
REDucEpprices in every Department. Else